Drain device and electronic control type drain system

ABSTRACT

A drain device includes a tube set, a transmission, a stopper and a driver. The transmission is disposed in a main tube and an isolating inner tube, and extended from the front end of the isolating inner tube to the front end of the main tube. The stopper is mounted to a front end of the transmission, and adapted to close or open a water feeding inlet. The driver is disposed in the isolating inner tube, and mechanically connected to the transmission, whereby after the driver receives an electronic control signal, the driver drives the stopper to move downward or upward via the transmission, and there is a sealing effect or a gap between the stopper and the annular plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 102126924, filed on Jul. 26, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a drain device and more particularly to an electronic control type drain system which controls a drainage outlet of a container to be not drained or drained.

2. Related Art

Please referring to FIG. 1, it is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional sink. The conventional sink structure 10 includes a sink 20 and a faucet body 30. A pulling rod 50 passes through a through hole (not shown) of the faucet body 30, and is pivotally connected to a lever 51 which is located under the sink 20. The sink 20 includes a drainage outlet 24 and a stopper 22. The drainage outlet 24 is adapted to be communicated with a drain conduit 26, and the stopper 22 is adapted to open or close the drainage outlet 24. When the pulling rod 50 moves upward or downward, the pulling rod 50 drives the lever 51, and further activates the stopper 22 of the sink 20 to be switched so as to drain or not drain.

According to the above-mentioned sink structure, the pulling rod 50 easily touches a wall when the pulling rod 50 is pulled up. In order to prevent the pulling rod 50 from touching the wall, the pulling rod 50 must be bent slightly. Or, the best pivot location of the lever 51 must be found by many tries, such that it is inconvenient during installation. Furthermore, the pulling rod 50 must be pulled up by a manual manner, and the prior art does not disclose the pulling rod 50 can be pulled up by an electric manner.

Accordingly, a need remains for a drain device and an electronic control type drain system to solve the foregoing problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide a drain device and an electronic control type drain system which controls a drainage outlet of a container to be not drained or drained by an electric manner.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a drain device, comprising: a tube set comprising: a main tube having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end defines a water feeding inlet; an isolating inner tube having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the isolating inner tube is mounted to the rear end of the main tube; a draining outer tube having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the draining outer tube is mounted to the rear end of the main tube; and a conduit having a front end, wherein the front end of the conduit is mounted to the rear end of the draining outer tube; and a transmission disposed in the main tube and the isolating inner tube, and extended from the front end of the isolating inner tube to the front end of the main tube; a stopper mounted to a front end of the transmission, and adapted to close or open the water feeding inlet; and a driver disposed in the isolating inner tube, and mechanically connected to the transmission, whereby after the driver receives an electronic control signal, the driver drives the stopper to move downward or upward via the transmission, and there is a sealing effect or a gap between the stopper and the annular plate.

The present invention further provides an electronic control type drain system, comprising: a drain device of the present invention; a container comprising a drainage outlet, which is communicated with the water feeding inlet of the drain device; a sensor adapted to sense an external signal; and a control circuit board adapted to generate an electronic control signal according to the external signal sensed by the sensor, wherein the electronic control signal is transferred to the driver of the drain device.

The electronic control type drain system of the present invention can control a drainage outlet of a container to be not drained or drained by an electric manner, i.e., the user can control the container to be not drained or drained by a non-touch manner.

To make the aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention clearer, detailed illustration is provided in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventional sink.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a drain device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a combined perspective view of a drain device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a drain device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic control type drain system according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing that there is a sealing effect between a stopper and an annular plate.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electronic control type drain system according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing that there is a gap between a stopper and an annular plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention.

Please referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, they depict a drain device 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drain device 110 includes a tube set 130, a transmission 150, a stopper 160 and a driver 170.

The tube set 130 includes a main tube 132, an isolating inner tube 134, a draining outer tube 136 and a conduit 138. The main tube 132 has a front end 132 a and a rear end 132 b. The front end 132 a defines a water feeding inlet 142. The isolating inner tube 134 also has a front end 134 a and a rear end 134 b, and the front end 134 a of the isolating inner tube 134 is mounted to the rear end 132 b of the main tube 132. The draining outer tube 136 also has a front end 136 a and a rear end 136 b, and the front end 136 a of the draining outer tube 136 is mounted to the rear end 132 b of the main tube 132. The conduit 138 has a front end 138 a, and the front end 138 a of the conduit 138 is mounted to the rear end 136 b of the draining outer tube 136. In this embodiment, the mounting manner can be a screwing manner. For example, the front end 134 a of the isolating inner tube 134 can be screwed to the rear end 132 b of the main tube 132. More detailed, an inner thread of the front end 134 a of the isolating inner tube 134 is screwed to an outer thread of the rear end 132 b of the main tube 132. For example, the front end 136 a of the draining outer tube 136 can be screwed to the rear end 132 b of the main tube 132. More detailed, an inner thread of the front end 136 a of the draining outer tube 136 is screwed to an outer thread of the rear end 132 b of the main tube 132. For example, the front end 138 a of the conduit 138 can be screwed to the rear end 136 b of the draining outer tube 136. More detailed, an outer thread of the front end 138 a of the conduit 138 is screwed to an inner thread of the rear end 136 b of the draining outer tube 136.

The drain device 110 can further include an annular plate 140, which is mounted to the front end 132 a of the main tube 132. The water feeding inlet 142 passes through annular plate 140. For example, the annular plate 140 can be screwed to the front end 132 a of the main tube 132. More detailed, an outer thread of the annular plate 140 can be screwed to an inner thread of the front end 132 a of the main tube 132. The water feeding inlet 142 is adapted to be communicated with a drainage outlet 124 of a container 120 (shown in FIG. 5) and the main tube 132. In this embodiment, the annular plate 140 and the main tube 132 can be individually made of different material. For example, the annular plate 140 can be stainless steel material, and the main tube 132 can be made of plastic material. In another embodiment, the annular plate 140 and the main tube 132 can be integrally made. For example, both of the annular plate 140 and the main tube 132 can be made of plastic material. In other words, the annular plate 140 and the main tube 132 can be integrally formed to a single component.

Please referring to FIG. 4 again, the main tube 132 surrounds the transmission 150, and there is a first flow channel 144 defined between a wall of the main tube 132 and the transmission 150. The draining outer tube 136 surrounds the isolating inner tube 134, and there is a second flow channel 146 defined between a wall of the draining outer tube 136 and a wall of the isolating inner tube 134. The water feeding inlet 142 is communicated with the first flow channel 144, the second flow channel 146 and the conduit 138 in sequence.

A wall of the main tube 132 includes a plurality of first through holes 133 a and second through holes 133 b, which are adjacent to the front end 132 a and the rear end 132 b respectively. The first through holes 133 a are adapted to be communicated with another external drainage outlet (not shown). The second through holes 133 b are adapted to communicate the first flow channel 144 with the second flow channel 146.

The transmission 150 is disposed in the main tube 132 and the isolating inner tube 134, and is extended from the front end 134 a of the isolating inner tube 134 to the front end 132 a of the main tube 132. The stopper 160 is mounted to a front end 150 a of the transmission 150, and is adapted to close or open the water feeding inlet 142. For example, the stopper 160 can be screwed to the front end 150 a of the transmission 150 by means of an inner thread and an outer thread. The driver 170 is disposed in the isolating inner tube 134, and is mechanically connected to the transmission 150, whereby after the driver 170 receives an electronic control signal, the driver 170 drives the stopper 160 to move downward or upward via the transmission 150, and there is a sealing effect or a gap between the stopper 160 and the annular plate 140 so as to control the drainage outlet 124 of the container 120 to be not drained or drained.

In this embodiment, the transmission 150 includes an extended rod 152 and a shaft assembly 154. The extended rod 152 has a front end 152 a and a rear end 152 b, wherein the stopper 160 is mounted to the front end 152 a of the extended rod 152 of the transmission 150. For example, the stopper 160 can be screwed to the front end 152 a of the extended rod 152 of the transmission 150. More detailed, an inner thread of the stopper 160 can be screwed to an outer thread of the front end 152 a of the extended rod 152 of the transmission 150. The shaft assembly 154 is mounted to the rear end 152 b of the extended rod 152, wherein the driver 170 is mechanically connected to the shaft assembly 154 by means of a helical thread. The shaft assembly 154 is adapted to transform a rotary motion of the driver 170 to a linear motion of the transmission 150 by means of the helical thread having a function of a lipstick that the rotary motion can be transformed to the linear motion. In another embodiment, the shaft assembly 154 and the extended rod 152 can be integrally made, i.e., the shaft assembly 154 and the extended rod 152 can be integrally formed to a single component.

In this embodiment, the stopper 160 can include an O-ring 162 for providing a better sealing effect between the annular plate 140 and the stopper 160, when the stopper 160 is inserted to the annular plate 140. The main tube 132 can include a strainer sheet 131, which is disposed at the front end 132 a of the main tube 132 for filtering various substances which enter the water feeding inlet 142. The isolating inner tube 134 can include a cover 128 and an O-ring 129 for tightly sealing the isolating inner tube 134. An O-ring 126 is adapted for providing a better sealing effect between the isolating inner tube 134 and the transmission 150, when the transmission 150 is inserted to the isolating inner tube 134. Also, an O-ring 127 is adapted for providing a better sealing effect between the draining outer tube 136 and the isolating inner tube 134, when the isolating inner tube 134 is inserted to the draining outer tube 136.

The driver 170 can include a motor 172, a conductive line 174, a rubber cover 139, a connection rack 176 and a plurality of screws 178. The isolating inner tube 134 can include a through hole 135, the draining outer tube 136 can include a through hole 137, and the rubber cover 139 is disposed in the through holes 135, 137. The motor 172 is electrically connected to an external power source (not shown) by the conductive line 174 passing through the rubber cover 139. The connection rack 176 and the screws 178 are adapted to mount the driver 170 in the isolating inner tube 134.

Please referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, it depicts an electronic control type drain system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic control type drain system 100 includes the drain device 110 of the present invention, a container 120, a sensor 180 and a control circuit board 182. The container 120 (e.g., sink) includes a drainage outlet 124, which is communicated with the water feeding inlet 142 of the drain device 110. The sensor 180 is adapted to sense an external signal. The control circuit board 182 is adapted to generate an electronic control signal (e.g., open signal or closed signal) according to the external signal sensed by the sensor 180, and the electronic control signal is transferred to the driver 170 of the drain device 110, whereby after the driver 170 receives the electronic control signal, the driver 170 drives the stopper 160 to move downward or upward via the transmission 150, and there is a sealing effect (shown in FIG. 5) or a gap (shown in FIG. 6) between the stopper 160 and the annular plate 140 so as to close or open the water feeding inlet 142, and further control the drainage outlet 124 of the container 120 to be not drained or drained. Thus, the electronic control type drain system 100 of the present invention can control a drainage outlet 124 of a container 120 to be not drained or drained by an electric manner, i.e., the user can control the container 120 to be not drained or drained by a non-touch manner.

For example, when a hand of the user is near to the sensor 180, the electronic control signal is an open signal, whereby there is a gap (shown in FIG. 6) between the stopper 160 and the annular plate 140 so as to open the water feeding inlet 142, and further control the drainage outlet 124 of the container 120 to be drained. Furthermore, when the hand of the user is far away the sensor 180 for a predetermined time (e.g., one minute, five minutes or ten minutes), the electronic control signal is a closed signal, whereby there is sealing effect (shown in FIG. 5) between the stopper 160 and the annular plate 140 so as to close the water feeding inlet 142, and further control the drainage outlet 124 of the container 120 to be not drained. The electronic control type drain system 100 of the present invention can keep closing the drainage outlet 124 of the container 120 so as to avoid the leakage of smelly gas of the tube set 130.

In addition, simultaneously the sensor 180 and the control circuit board 182 can also be a sensor and a control circuit board for feeding water to the container 120, whereby the user can control the container 120 to be fed with water by a non-touch manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the implementation manners or embodiments of the technical solutions adopted by the present invention to solve the problems and it's not desired to limit the scope of the invention. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A drain device, comprising: a tube set comprising: a main tube having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end defines a water feeding inlet; an isolating inner tube having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the isolating inner tube is mounted to the rear end of the main tube; a draining outer tube having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end of the draining outer tube is mounted to the rear end of the main tube; and a conduit having a front end, wherein the front end of the conduit is mounted to the rear end of the draining outer tube; and a transmission disposed in the main tube and the isolating inner tube, and extended from the front end of the isolating inner tube to the front end of the main tube; a stopper mounted to a front end of the transmission, and adapted to close or open the water feeding inlet; and a driver disposed in the isolating inner tube, and mechanically connected to the transmission, whereby after the driver receives an electronic control signal, the driver drives the stopper to move downward or upward via the transmission, and there is a sealing effect or a gap between the stopper and the annular plate.
 2. The drain device according to claim 1, wherein the main tube surrounds the transmission, there is a first flow channel defined between a wall of the main tube and the transmission, the draining outer tube surrounds the isolating inner tube, there is a second flow channel defined between a wall of the draining outer tube and a wall of the isolating inner tube, and the water feeding inlet is communicated with the first flow channel, the second flow channel and the conduit in sequence.
 3. The drain device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission comprises: an extended rod having a front end and a rear end, wherein the stopper is mounted to the front end of the extended rod; and a shaft assembly mounted to the rear end of the extended rod, wherein the driver is mechanically connected to the shaft assembly.
 4. The drain device according to claim 3, wherein the shaft assembly is adapted to transform a rotary motion of the driver to a linear motion of the transmission.
 5. The drain device according to claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a motor, a conductive line and a rubber cover, the isolating inner tube comprises a through hole, the draining outer tube comprises a through hole, and the rubber cover is disposed in the through holes of the isolating inner tube and the draining outer tube, whereby the motor is electrically connected to an external power source by passing the conductive line through the rubber cover.
 6. The drain device according to claim 1, further comprising an annular plate, wherein the annular plate is mounted to the front end of the main tube, and the water feeding inlet passes through annular plate.
 7. The drain device according to claim 6, wherein the annular plate and the main tube are integrally made.
 8. The drain device according to claim 1, wherein the main tube comprises a strainer sheet, which is disposed at the front end of the main tube for filtering various substances which enter the water feeding inlet.
 9. The drain device according to claim 6, wherein the main tube comprises a strainer sheet, which is disposed at the front end of the main tube for filtering various substances which enter the water feeding inlet.
 10. An electronic control type drain system, comprising: a drain device of claim 1; a container comprising a drainage outlet, which is communicated with the water feeding inlet of the drain device; a sensor adapted to sense an external signal; and a control circuit board adapted to generate an electronic control signal according to the external signal sensed by the sensor, wherein the electronic control signal is transferred to the driver of the drain device.
 11. The electronic control type drain system according to claim 10, wherein simultaneously the sensor and the control circuit board also are a sensor and a control circuit board for feeding water to the container.
 12. An electronic control type drain system, comprising: a drain device of claim 6; a container comprising a drainage outlet, which is communicated with the water feeding inlet of the drain device; a sensor adapted to sense an external signal; and a control circuit board adapted to generate an electronic control signal according to the external signal sensed by the sensor, wherein the electronic control signal is transferred to the driver of the drain device.
 13. The electronic control type drain system according to claim 12, wherein simultaneously the sensor and the control circuit board also are a sensor and a control circuit board for feeding water to the container.
 14. The electronic control type drain system according to claim 12, wherein when a hand of a user is near to the sensor, the electronic control signal is an open signal, whereby there is a gap between the stopper and the annular plate.
 15. The electronic control type drain system according to claim 14, wherein when the hand of the user is far away the sensor for a predetermined time, the electronic control signal is a closed signal, whereby there is sealing effect between the stopper and the annular plate. 